Livingston vs Loanhead and Bilston
Which is better to live in? Distance: 14.0 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Livingston wins on house prices with a 22% gap. Livingston has the lower crime rate of the two. For families, Livingston edges ahead on school quality.
Avg House Price
Livingston
£217,827
Loanhead and Bilston
£277,911
Crime Rate
Livingston
220.9
Loanhead and Bilston
985.1
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Livingston
91.5%
Loanhead and Bilston
74.3%
Avg Download Speed
Livingston
434.9
Loanhead and Bilston
353.7
EPC Rating
Livingston
58.3
Loanhead and Bilston
69.8
Median Income
Livingston
£33,323
Loanhead and Bilston
£35,483
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in ScotlandAt £217,827, Livingston undercuts Loanhead And Bilston (£277,911) by around 22% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Livingston is a flat at £123,221, while in Loanhead And Bilston it is a flat at £159,354.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: semi-detached homes are 25% pricier in Loanhead And Bilston (£293,905 vs £219,854).
Price Trend (23 Years)
Over the last 21 years, Livingston prices grew faster — 142% vs 122%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in ScotlandResidents of Livingston experience less crime overall, with a rate of 220.9 per 1,000 versus 985.1 per 1,000 in Loanhead And Bilston. The most common crime category in Livingston is violent-crime, while in Loanhead And Bilston it is other-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Livingston's most common crime is violent crime; in Loanhead And Bilston it's other crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in ScotlandOf the 86 schools in Livingston, 91.5% are in the top two inspection bands. In Loanhead And Bilston, which has 39 schools, the figure is 74.3%.
Livingston School Inspection Breakdown
91.5% of 86 schools (73 primary, 13 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
Loanhead and Bilston School Inspection Breakdown
74.3% of 39 schools (33 primary, 6 secondary) sit in the top two inspection bands.
| Metric | Livingston | Loanhead and Bilston |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 86 | 39 |
| Primary | 73 | 33 |
| Secondary | 13 | 6 |
| % Top two bands | 91.5% | 74.3% |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Livingston averages 434.9 Mbps – ahead of Loanhead And Bilston's 353.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 94.9% of premises in Livingston and 99.6% in Loanhead And Bilston. Gigabit availability stands at 84.3% in Livingston and 65.1% in Loanhead And Bilston.
Livingston is the faster of the two by 23% on average download speed (435 vs 354 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Loanhead And Bilston, scoring 69.8 on average (band C) compared to 58.3 (band D) in Livingston. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,486 in Livingston and £1,453 in Loanhead And Bilston. 50.2% of homes in Livingston have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 63.7% in Loanhead And Bilston.
Loanhead And Bilston has more energy-efficient housing — 63.7% reach band C or above, vs 50.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £35,483 in Loanhead And Bilston and £33,323 in Livingston. The median age is 41.5 in Livingston and 45.8 in Loanhead And Bilston. Employment rates stand at 73.6% in Livingston and 70.8% in Loanhead And Bilston. Owner-occupancy is 63.7% in Livingston versus 68.3% in Loanhead And Bilston. Livingston has a population of 65,810 and Loanhead And Bilston has 7,770.
| Indicator | Livingston | Loanhead and Bilston |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 65,810 | 7,770 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 45.8 |
| Median Household Income | £33,323 | £35,483 |
| Employment Rate | 73.6% | 70.8% |
| Owner Occupied | 63.7% | 68.3% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.3% | 25.4% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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